Environmental containment system for a flow cytometer

Abstract

A environmental containment system ( 16 ) for a flow cytometer ( 21 ) which provides a adjustably controllable environment in which biological particles can be differentiated and droplets separated into collection containers ( 15 ).

We claim:  
     
       1. An enclosed environment, comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure; and  
       f. a mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases.  
       wherein said mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure has a percent ratio different than percent ratio of atmospheric gases.  
     
     
       2. An enclosed environment, comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure; and  
       f. a mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases,  
       wherein said mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure comprises mixture of gases selected to maintain a species of anaerobic organism.  
     
     
       3. An enclosed environment as described in  claim 2 , wherein said mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure comprises about seven percent hydrogen, about five percent carbon dioxide, and about 88 percent nitrogen. 
     
     
       4. An enclosed environment as described in  claim 3 , further comprising an oxygen detector within said enclosure and responsive to said mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure. 
     
     
       5. An enclosed environment as described in  claim 4 , further comprising a signal generator responsive to said oxygen detector. 
     
     
       6. An enclosed environment, comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure; and  
       f. a mixture of gases, including a sterilant, introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases,  
       wherein said mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure comprises a mixture of gases selected to maintain a species of aerobic organism.  
     
     
       7. An enclosed environment, comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure;  
       f. a mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases; and  
       g. a sterilant introduced into said enclosure with said mixture of gases,  
       where said sterilant comprises formaldehyde gas.  
     
     
       8. An enclosed environment, comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure;  
       f. a mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases; and  
       g. a sterilant introduced into said enclosure with said mixture of gases,  
       wherein said sterilant comprises chlorine gas.  
     
     
       9. An enclosed environment comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure;  
       f. a mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases; and  
       g. a gas temperature adjustment system positioned to control the temperature of said mixture of gases within said enclosure.  
     
     
       10. An enclosed environment comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure; and  
       f. a mixture of gases, including a sterilant, introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases,  
       wherein a portion of said enclosure is transparent.  
     
     
       11. An enclosed environment comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure;  
       f. a mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases; and  
       g) an access element coupled to said enclosure,  
       wherein said access element comprises a removable transparent screen.  
     
     
       12. An enclosed environment comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure;  
       f. a mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases, and  
       g. a flexible transparent liner disposed between said mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure and said enclosure.  
     
     
       13. An enclosed environment as described in  claim 12 , further comprising a liner dispenser installed in said enclosure and which dispenses said flexible transparent liner. 
     
     
       14. An enclosed environment comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure;  
       f. a mixture of gases, including a sterilant, introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases;  
       g. an oscillator which generates oscillations to which said liquid stream responds;  
       h. droplets that break off from said liquid stream, and  
       i. particles entrained in said liquid stream,  
       where said container to collect said liquid stream comprises a droplet collector,  
       wherein said conduit having an orifice element comprises a flow cytometer nozzle,  
       wherein a portion of said droplets that break off from said liquid stream contain one of said particles, and  
       wherein said particles comprise non-biological particles.  
     
     
       15. An enclosed environment comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure;  
       f. a mixture of gases introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases;  
       g. an oscillator which generates oscillations to which said liquid stream responds;  
       h. droplets that break off from said liquid stream, and  
       i. particles entrained in said liquid stream,  
       where said container to collect said liquid stream comprises a droplet collector,  
       wherein said conduit having an orifice element comprises a flow cytometer nozzle,  
       wherein a portion of said droplets that break off from said liquid stream contain one of said particles,  
       wherein said particles comprise biological particles, and  
       wherein said biological particles comprise anaerobic organisms.  
     
     
       16. An enclosed environment comprising: 
       a. a conduit having an orifice element;  
       b. a liquid flow in said conduit;  
       c. a liquid stream generated at said orifice element;  
       d. a container to collect said liquid stream;  
       e. an enclosure having an aperture element, wherein said container has a location in said enclosure, and wherein said liquid stream has a trajectory from said orifice element to said container in said enclosure;  
       f. a mixture of gases, including a sterilant, introduced into said enclosure which flow through said aperture element, wherein said flow through said aperture element maintains said liquid stream having said trajectory from said orifice element to said container within said mixture of gases;  
       g. an oscillator which generates oscillations to which said liquid stream responds;  
       h. droplets that break off from said liquid stream, and  
       i. particles entrained in said liquid stream,  
       where said container to collect said liquid stream comprises a droplet collector,  
       wherein said conduit having an orifice element comprises a flow cytometer nozzle,  
       wherein a portion of said droplets that break off from said liquid stream contain one of said particles,  
       wherein said particles comprise biological particles, and  
       wherein said biological particles comprise aerobic organisms.